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G. A. REYNOLDS.

COMBINED GATE AND SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY GROSSINGS.

No. 319,622. Patented June 9 1885.

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GEORGE A. REYNOLDS, OF UTICA, NE'W YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letteis Patent No.3l9,622, dated June 9,1885.

Application filed July 8, [884.

(No model .To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. REYNoLDs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Gate andSignal for Railroad-Crossings; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention is an improvement upon the railroad-signal andcrossing-gate forming the subject-matter of Patent No. 305,331, grantedto me on the 16th day of September, 1854. In said patent I have shown aswinging gate or bar that is mounted on a supporting post or column, andis raised and lowered by the action of a sliding weight or collar thatencircles the upper part of said column, and is combined with devicesfor raising the weight by an approaching train and releasing the same bya departing train. In the present invention I have made provision forperfectly protecting from the weather the devices that operate the gateor signal, there being as few exposed parts as possible; and I alsoprovide a weight and cord and pulley mechanism which is inclosed withinthe column. or post that supports the gate and signaling devices. Thefunction of said interior weight is to elevate the exterior weight, thatencircles the column or post, so as to effect a lowering of the gate orbar and guard the approaches to the railroad-track. The interior weightoperates in a frame or shell, and is held in an elevated position by aretaining device that is connected with a treadle or springsupported bararranged alongside the track-rail at the side from whence the train isapproaching. This retaining device isreleased at the proper time beforethe train reaches the crossing, and the weight then descends and bringsthe gate into a horizontal position through the intervention of thedevices that act directly upon said gate. After the train has departedfrom the crossing it brings into action devices for restoring theinterior weight eter than the upper portion.

to its original or elevated position, in which position it is held bythe aforesaid retaining device, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, and then set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improvedrailroad-crossing gate and signal, the parts being shown in positionwhen the gate is guarding the approaches to the track. Fig. 2 is 'avertical sectional view showing the gate in a raised position and theinterior operating mechanism ready to be tripped for lowering the gate.Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the sliding weight operating insidethe hollow column. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a retaining device forsaid sliding weight that is released by an approaching train to trip theweight. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of another form of retainingdevice for the sliding weight that operates inside the hollow column.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a verti cal column or post, the loweror base portion of which is made considerably larger in dian1 The columnis made tubular or hollow throughout its entire length, and is designedto inclose the operat ing devices hereinafter referred to- The up perreduced portion of the column is encircled by a collar, 2, that iscapable of sliding vertically and rotating on said column, and itsobject is to carry and properly display or bring into service anindicator-vane or semaphore signal, 3. upward direction by the elevationof a hollow weight, 4, that encircles the column ll beneath said collar2. The rotary movement of the latter is effected by a pin thereon thattravels in a spiral groove in the column. A bracket, 5, rising from anexterior ledge of the column 1, serves as the support for a swinging orris ing and falling gate, 26, and said bracket may also bear a gong orbell, 6, that is sounded when the gate is descending. The gate is guidedin its movement by a curved slotted arm, 7, and is made long enough toextend across the road leading to the-track.

Within the hollow base of the column 1 is fitted or arranged a verticalframe, 8, that may consist of a cylindrical shell having top and bottomplates or flanges. This frame receives a vertically-sliding weight, 9,which has ribs The collar is 'causedto. slide in an .8

10, that fit in grooves or ways made in the frame 8. The lower endof'the weight has a projection, 11, which descends or fits into a socketconstituting an air-cushioning device for breaking the fall ofthe-weight. A cord or chain, 13, connected with the top of the weight 9,passes in an upward direction and runs over a pulley, 14, journaled in abracket or arm, 15, wit-hin the upper portion of the column, and fromthence said cord passes to a lug or eye, 16, on the'exterior slidingweight, 4, to which it is secured. This lug or eye 16 projects throughand travels in a vertical slot, 17, made in the column 1. A second-cordor chain is attached to the top of the weight 9, and runs over a pulley,19, journaled in the top of the frame 8, and from thence it passes overa guide-pulley, 20, on the interior of the hollow base of the columnthrough an opening. in the latter. This cord or chain 18 is connectedwith devices that lead to,

a treadle or spring-bar, arranged alongside the track-rail at some pointbeyond the crossing, so that when the train is departing .therefrom itwill depress the treadle, draw up the cord or chain, and elevate theweight 9 into the position shown in Fig. 2. When the weight is thuselevated, it is engaged by the rod 21, that plays through the base ofthe column, and the interior frame, 8, and is held beneath the weight bya spring, 22, that encircles said rod. Its inner end bears aroller, 27,that is adapted to enter a vertical groove, 28, made in the weight 9, soas to allow said weight to move past the rod 21 with as little frictionas possible. The rod 21 is connected by means ofa rod or chain with atreadle device or spring-bar arranged at a suitable dis- .tance from thecrossing alongside one of the track-rails, so as to be depressed oractuated by an approaching train. When this is done, therod 21 isreleased from the weight 9, and thelatter is free to descend to thebottom of the frame 8, so as to raise the exterior sliding weightthrough the medium of the connecting cord or chain. This operationresults in closing or lowering the gate, as will be readily understood.It should be observed that the withdrawal of the weight-retaining deviceby an approaching train will cause said weight to be trippedinstantaneously, and the gate is thus closed in a most positive manner.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of the weight 9that is, it has aspring-pressed bolt, 23, which bears a beveled nose-piece, 24-, that isnormally projected into the vertical groove in the weight. The rod 21 isalso beveled reversely to the nose of the bolt 23, sothat when theweight is raised said nose can glide past the rod 21, after which itsspring projects the nose of the bolt under the rod 21, to hold theweight in an elevated position. A horizontal hole, 29, is made in theweight 9 for the reception of the spring-bolt, and at the end of saidhole is an offset or recess, 25, for receiving the nosepiece when it isin a retracted position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v v 1. The combination, with a verticalpost or column having a chamber or recess, an exte rior-encirclingweight or collar on the upper portion of said post, a swinging gateadapted to be engaged by said weight, a weight: adapted to be movedvertically in said cham-.

her or recess, pulleys, and cord or chain guided thereby located in thepost orcolumn and connecting the interior weight to theencirclingweight, a retaining and trippingde vice in said chamber or recess forreleasing and retaining said interior weight by approaching anddeparting trains, substantially as set forth. 1 g

2. A hollow column or post having an interior frame in its base portion,a weight fitted to slide in said frame, and a retaining or trippingdevice, in combination with devices for raising said weight, aswinginggate, and. a sliding collar or exterior weight adapted tooperate said gate, and connected with the interior weight, substantiallyas herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

cnoncn A. REYNOLDS;

